Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 5, 15th - 28th February, 1942

 

The situation at the start of turn 5. The most notable development being the fall of Singapore. 2 RN destroyers in drydock were destroyed with the remaining 4 having sailed to join the Dutch in Batavia. The objectives circled have been captured by the Japanese.

The Japanese must capture all objectives before the end of turn 6 to claim victory. The margin of that victory will be determined by the number of victory points (VP's) gained by each side. This will prove to be very tight indeed with the EAF in particular having no leeway for failure.

Continued -

The current strength of both sides:

JAPANESE

WAF

Floatplane Carriers x 3
Heavy Cruisers x 4
Light Cruisers x 1
Destroyers x 10
LBA - 8 x fighters, 23 x bombers 

EAF

Aircraft Carriers x 1
Floatplane Carriers x 1
Heavy Cruisers x 2
Destroyers x 9
LBA - 17 x fighters, 28 x bombers

The Japanese have suffered heavy losses to their destroyer force which could prove problematic in the final turn.

ALLIED

ROYAL NAVY
Destroyers x 4 

DUTCH NAVY
Light Cruisers x 1 (in drydock)
Destroyers x 4

US NAVY
Light Cruiser x 1
Destroyers x 8

ANZAC 
Light Cruiser x 1
Destroyer x 1 (in drydock)

The ANZAC force has suffered badly. The loss of their cruisers and the loss of cruisers overall will impact on their ability to mount sweeps.

The following sequence of play is as detailed in the scenario book:

1. General Intelligence.

Admiral Hart is replaced by Dutch Admiral Conrad Helfrich in command of ABDAFLOAT. On Luzon, Japanese troops continue their assault on the Bataan peninsula. U.S. carriers under Vice Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey raid Japanese-controlled Wake Island.

2. Japanese Theatre Events.

Airborne attack! The 3rd Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) will execute a parachute drop. Reduce the transport requirements to capture Koepang, Timor by 33%.

3. Allied Theatre Events.

Submarine attack! Allied submarine attacks random IJN mission. Roll a D12: 1-6 Dutch submarine • 7-11 U.S. “fleet boat” submarine • 12 U.S. “S-boat” submarine. 

4. Weather Forecast.

Dice rolls were made to determine any adjustments to the weather during the engagements phase. For the WAF +3 and the EAF +1 to be added to weather dice rolls increasing chance of rough weather. 

5. Japanese Command Decisions.

The Japanese receive 3 CD's (Command Decision points) for the WAF and 4 for the EAF to be split between the central and eastern axis. Each CD allows for one action. 

The heavy losses sustained to their destroyer fleet has limited their options. Patrols have been cancelled, and with the exception of a carrier strike, all available destroyers have been assigned to invasion convoyes.

WAF
1. A medium sized invasion convoy to Bangka Island, Sumatra. 8 transports escorted by 2 floatplane carriers, 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers.

2. A medium sized invasion convoy to Palembang, Sumatra. 8 transports escorted by 1 floatplane carrier, 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers.

3. Transfer the Distant Cover Group (heavily depleted to 1 cruiser and 2 destroyers) to the EAF.

EAF
1. Carrier Group strike by the Ryojo on one of the allied sweeps.

2. A very small invasion convoy in the centre axis to Banjermasin, Borneo. 1 transport escorted by 1 cruiser and 3 destroyers.

3. A small invasion convoy on the eastern axis to Makassar, Celebes. 4 transports escorted by 1 floatplane carrier, 1 cruiser and 4 destroyers.

4.  A small invasion convoy on the eastern axis to Koepang, Timor. 2 transports escorted by 1 destroyer.

6. Allied Intelligence.

PatWing 10 reports contact! ABDA receives a Report on a randomly determined IJN Patrol/Convoy mission, and may add or deduct 2 from Sweep intercept rolls increasing possibility of intercept.

7. Allied Command Decisions.

3 CD's are allocated this turn. However, the depleted nature of the allied forces enables only one of these to be used.

The sole surviving Dutch cruiser, Heemskerk, is in drydock without which the destroyers berthed in Batavia are unable to mount a sweep. The RAN based in Darwin consists of 1 destroyer, HMAS Napier, which is undergoing repair.

This just leaves EASGROUP (US Navy). They will sortie a sweep targeting the EAF centre axis, consisting of 2 light cruisers (1 of which is RNZN) and 8 ageing destroyers.

8. Japanese Intelligence.

11th Air Fleet reports contact! A Japanese reconnaissance plane spots and shadows one ABDA Sweep. The Japanese receive a Report. Add or deduct 2 to any one IJN roll for CG, LBA or Patrol forces contacting/detecting this ABDA Sweep mission.

9. Engagements.

Planned ship movements not including any air attacks. A US fleet submarine failed to detect the Borneo bound Myoko convoy and therefore no attack made.

The engagement phases to be worked through:

i  CG v CG
ii CG v Surface
iii LBA v CG or Sweep
iv Patrol v Sweep
v  Sweep v Convoy
vi CG v Crippled/Disabled Group
vii LBA v Crippled/Disabled Group

i. N/A

ii. An aircraft strike from the carrier Ryojo was tasked with targeting the Darwin naval group protecting the Timor bound convoy. They returned to the carrier having failed to locate any enemy.

iii. There is only one possible target which involves the EAF Land Based Air. 6 flights of Nell bombers and 8 flights of Betty bombers escorted by 6 of Zero fighters successfully intercept the USN Eastgroup south of Borneo.

The Eastgroup consists of the light cruisers USS Boise and HMNZS Leander escorted by 8 elderly Clemson class destroyers.

The Japanese make 2 waves of attacks. The first consisting of the Betty bombers make a level bombing run against Boise. AA fire fails to hit any bombers and 2 flights successfully straddle the cruiser. Fortunately for Boise no hits were registered. 

The second wave of Nell bombers targeted Leander. Again no AA hits were recorded and one flight straddled the ship. The New Zealanders were not so lucky with a near miss damaging its hull (one hull box of damage recorded).

iv. N/A

v. Eastgroup attempted in intercept the Borneo bound convoy but failed to make contact in the darkness.

vi. N/A

vii. N/A

An uneventful turn 5 ends with the Japanese achieving all its objectives unmolested. Although a disappointing turn for the allies it is not over yet for them. If they can stop one of the convoys in the final turn they could still deny the Japanese victory.